The journey to my son’s first day of 6th grade has been bittersweet
Hollis' medical challenges aren't over, but neither is his childhood
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September carries a lot of meaning for my family. While everyone looks forward to taking pictures and sending their children off for the first day of school, my son Hollis’ journey has been filled with bittersweet moments.
Hollis began pre-K in 2019 at 4 years old. In October of that year, he was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, a rare brain tumor. His first school year quickly became filled with brain surgery, radiation treatments, trips to the hospital, and recovery.
He missed almost the entire year. For a while, school took place in the hospital. After treatment, when he was cleared, he was instructed to remain at home, so a teacher came to us for a few months.
Hollis, 4, attends his first day of school in September 2019. (Courtesy of Sarah Horta)
As the years went on, school became an important part of Hollis’ life. From the fall of 2021 through the spring of 2024, he participated in after-school programs, had excellent attendance, and looked forward to school each day. He loved to read and began doing so at a young age because he was always trying to keep up with his older siblings.
Then, in July 2024, everything changed again.
Hollis began experiencing new medical challenges, and by fall, it felt like we were living in the emergency room. He complained about pain throughout his body. One minute, his head hurt, and seconds later, his right leg hurt.
He was only 9, and he looked defeated.
As much as Hollis and I wanted him back in the classroom, we had other challenges to overcome, including a diagnosis of acquired hypothalamic obesity. He spent half the school year on home instruction while his medical team worked to manage his widespread body pain.
By January 2025, Hollis was exhausted. Then, one week before his 10th birthday, he told me he was ready to give up.
Hollis prepares for his first day of second grade in September 2022. (Courtesy of Sarah Horta)
Hearing your 9-year-old say that is a pain I cannot explain. I immediately contacted his doctors and got him help.
After Hollis recovered and his medications were adjusted to help manage his pain, returning to the classroom felt great. He could get back to being a kid, learning alongside his classmates and enjoying school.
But things were different now. Hollis needed medical support throughout the school day and was assigned a school aide to help him attend safely.
During the 2025–2026 school year, Hollis returned to school full time and finished fifth grade. About a month before the school year ended, after I advocated for additional educational services, the New York City Department of Education determined that his medical complexity required a nontraditional learning environment at a specialized school.
That meant another transition for a child who had already experienced so many.
Celebrating another milestone
Now, here we are in September 2026. Hollis is officially a junior high schooler — a sixth grader, y’all! I’m extremely happy and proud of how far he has come, but it’s a bittersweet moment.
Today, Hollis is officially a sixth grader! (Courtesy of Sarah Horta)
Hollis was so excited that he downloaded extra alarms on his phone to make sure he woke up for his 6:20 a.m. school bus. He is the first student picked up and the last dropped off, making for a long school day, but that hasn’t diminished his excitement.
On his first day, I made him two beef tacos for lunch and packed him two bottles of water and Cheez Doodles. He picked out his outfit, and while I was getting his lunchbox ready, I turned around and saw him completely dressed, sneakers on, backpack on, and ready to go.
I hadn’t seen him that happy in so long.
For a moment, I thought about that little 4-year-old starting pre-K in 2019 and everything that has happened since that first school year. I can’t believe how much he has grown.
To someone else, it might be just another first day of school. To me, it means my baby is still here. We are celebrating milestones like a normal family, but every happy moment means more than words can express.
Getting to sixth grade has been a bittersweet journey. Hollis’ medical challenges are not over, but neither is his childhood.
Sometimes the milestones other families expect are the same milestones families like mine pray to reach. And my boy reached another one.
I’ll see you back here next week.
Note: Rare Obesity News is strictly a news and information website about these disorders. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Rare Obesity News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to rare obesity disorders.
